Crossbar switch having a plurality of selecting magnets with a common control and a common release magnet



g- 1949' K. w. GRAYBILL ET AL 2,479,678

I CROSS-BAR SWITCH HAVING A PLURALITY OF SELECTING MAGNETS WITH A COMMONCONTROL AND A COMMON RELEASE MAGNET Filed Nov. 21, 1945 3 Sheecs-Sheet lINVENTORS. KENNETH W. GRAYBILL HANS SENGEBUSCH ATTORNEY g 1949- K. w.GRAYBILL ET AL 2,479,673

CROSS-BAR SWITCH HAVING A PLURALITY OF SELECTING MAGNETS WITH A COMMONCONTROL AND A COMMON RELEASE MAGNET Filed NOV. 21, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2FIGS 29 (as- H [31L- 4 INVENTORS. KENNETH W. GRAYBILL HANS SENGEBUSGHATTOREY g- 1949- K. w. GRAYBILL ET AL 2,479,678

CROSS-BAR SWITCH HAVING A PLURALITY OF SELECTING MAGNETS WITH A COMMONCONTROL AND A COMMON RELEASE MAGNET Filed Nov. 21, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 3FIG? [IUUEIEIUUDUDUDHUUUUUUU FIG. IO

36 H H H H H H H H E) f 1] INVENTORS. j H H W w w -A O KENNETH w.GRAYBlLL 58 HANS SENGEBUSCH ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 23, 1949 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE CROSSBAR SWITCH HAVING OF SELECTING MAGNETS WITH ACOM- MON CONTROL AND A COMMON RELEASE MAGNET Kenneth W. Graybill,Elmhurst, and Hans 'Seng'ebusch, Villa Park, Ill., assignors toAutomatic Electric Laboratories, Inc., Chicago, 111., a'corporation ofDelaware Application November 21, 1945, Serial No.'.630,065

.ment required.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved cross-barswitch wherein a single-group of magnets serves to selectively controlboth rankand file selecting members.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improvedcross-bar switch wherein an actuated contact set is mechanically latchedunder the control of a common release magnet.

Cross-bar switches have heretofore been disclosed wherein a number ofcontact sets are disposed in intersecting rows and wherein twointersecting groups of selecting members areaas to permit restoration ofthe selecting members and associated magnets; and in which the operatedcontact set is released by the reoperation of one or both of the membersused to operate said contact set.

The principal features of the present invention are the provision of animproved cross-bar switch having individual magnets for actuating eachmember of one group of selecting members wherein the members ofanothergroup of selecting members intersecting the first group areselectively actuated by the joint operation of one of said selectingmagnets and a common control magnet, wherein the actuated selectingmember of said other group is maintained actuated by said control magnetwhen the selecting magnet restores, wherein the subsequent operation ofone of said selecting magnets causes the operation of a contact set atthe intersection of the two actuated selecting members, wherein saidcontact set :is mechanically latched when the select.

2 ing and control magnets restore, wherein subsequent operations of anyof the selecting magnets will not disturb theconnection established bysaid one contact set and wherein said one contact set is released by theoperation of a common release magnet.

Other features of the invention will appear upon a further perusal ofthe specification taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawingscomprising Figs. '1.to 1'0, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective skeleton view of a portion of a.switch'ingmechan-ism constructed in accordance with itheinvention;

Fig. 2 is another perspective showing the method of mounting one of thecontact sets and an operating member therefor;

Figs. '3, 4, 5 and 6 illustrate various steps in the operation of theswitching mechanism of .Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a top view of the switching mechanism of Fig. 1 including thesupporting frame and other details of construction;

Fig. '8 is a front view as seen from the bottom of Fig. '7;

.Fig. 9 a rear view as seen from the top of Fig.7; and

Fig. 10 is a side view as seen from the right of Fig. 7.

The invention will first be briefly described, after which a detaileddescription of the illustrated embodiment thereof will be given. Aplureality of contact sets are :disposed in intersecting rows and twointersecting groups of selecting members are provided for selectivelyoperating any of thecontact sets through operating members indivdualthereto. Each selecting member of one group is arranged to move a row ofthe operating members so that any one of the operating members so movedmay be engaged by corre sponding ones of the selecting members in thesecond group to operate the contact set at the intersection of the twoactuated selecting mem-- bers. Individual magnets are provided foractuating each selecting member in the second group. The drawingillustrates two of the ten selecting magnets. A common control magnet isprovided 'for operating the selecting members in the first-group. Thiscontrol magnet is normally ineffective to operate any of the membersassociated therewith unless one of the selecting magnets is operated, inwhich case a correspond- .ing linger is moved by the operated selectingmagnet so that the control magnet is effective to actuate a selectingmember in the first group which corresponds to the operated selectingmagnet. These fingers are arranged so that the control magnet iseffective to hold the actuated selecting member in the first group afterthe selecting magnet is released. Thus by first operating a selectingmagnet, next operating the control magnet, and then releasing theselecting V magnet; the selecting member in the first groupcorresponding to the operated selecting magnet will be actuated and heldby the control magnet. The actuated selecting member moves itsassociated row of operating members so that a subsequent operation ofany of the selecting magnets will operate the contact set located at theintersection of the selecting member in the first group held by thecontrol magnet and the selecting member in the second group actuated bythe subsequently operated selecting magnet. A latching mechanism isprovided which is operated in response to the restoration of the controlmagnet to hold the actuated selecting member in the second group whenthe selecting magnet associated therewith is subsequently released. Theoperated contact set is thus held independently of the selecting andcontrol magnets. A common release magnet is provided for releasing thelatching mechanism to permit restoration of the switching mechanism tonormal.

Referring now to Fig. 1, portions of two of the selecting magnets, I and2, are shown, Each of these magnets comprises abar of magnetic materialof rectangular cross-section with a winding on the central portion ofthe bar. These magnets are provided with magnetic armatures,

such as 31 and 4 4, which are bars of L-shaped cross-section having aportion cut out of the center thereof to clear the magnet winding. Eachof these armatures has a pair of arms, such as 4 and 5, extending fromone end thereof. Each armature has a further arm, such as B, weldedthereto at a predetermined distance from one end thereof, which distanceis different for each armature. These latter arms engage slots incorresponding selecting members, such as 38, 38'

and 38", hereinafter termed file selecting mem-' V bers. The arms 5 eachengage a contact spring set, such as 3, not shown in Fig. 1 but whichmay be seen in Figs. 7 and 8. Each of the magnet armatures is pivoted soas to permit rotation thereof about an axis parallel to the length ofthe associated magnet. The pivot points are located near the corner ofthe L-shaped cross-section at either end of the armature. Thus whenmagnet 2 is energized, the armature 31 is rotated in a counter-clockwisedirection causing the selecting member 38 to move towards the lowerright corner of the drawing. These file selecting members are biassedtowards the upper left corner of the drawing by fiat springs, such as 9,engaging slots, such as ill, in the ends thereof. These springs are notshown in Fig. 1 but may be seen in Figs. 7 and 9. The biassing of thefile selecting members in turn biasses the armatures, such as 31, in aclockwise direction against stops, such as l I, shown in Figs. 7 to 9.

Two further selecting members, such as 4|, hereinafter termed rankselecting members, are shown intersecting the file selecting members.Each of these rank selecting members is pivoted so as to permit rotationthereof about an axis perpendicular to and intersecting the fileselecting members. Arms, such as 40, extend from one end of each ofthese rank selecting members. A control member l4, common to all of therank selectingmembers, is located 'ustabove the arms such as 40 and 5. Anumber of resilient fingers, such as I5, are welded at one end to thecontrol member M. The free ends of these fingers are positioned so as tobe ope'ratively moved by the arms, such as 4, extending from thearmatures of the selecting magnets. When so moved the lowermost portion39 of the free end of the finger I5 is in position to engage the arm,such as 40, extending from the corresponding rank selecting member so asto rotate said member in a clockwise direction when the control member Mis moved towards the lower right part of the drawing by the operation ofa control magnet I6, which is provided with an armature l'l engaging aslot is at the end of the control member. A coil spring l9 biasses thearmature l7 and control member l4 towards the upper left part of thedrawing. Each of the rank selecting members is biassed in acounter-clockwise direction against a stop, such as 51, by a coilspring, such as 49; which stops and springs are shown in Fig. 9. Each ofthe rank selecting members has a number of arms, such as 2|, extendingtherefrom; each of these arms being located immediately above acorresponding one of the file selecting members. These arms each supporta contact operating member, such as 43, made of elecrical insulatingmaterial. The operating members are each provided with two slots bymeans of which they are suspended on hooks projecting from a framemember as illustrated in Fig. 2. These operating members are not engagedby the file selecting members when the rank selecting members are intheir normal positions, but when a rank selecting member is rotated, aspreviously described, the operating members associated therewith dropuntil their lower edges are engaged in slots in the file selectingmembers located thereunder. With a row of operating members engaged inthe slots in the file selecting members, the operation of any of thesefile selecting members by their associated magnets will cause thelowermost edge of an operating member to be moved towards the lower leftportion of the drawing thereby causing the active contacts, such as 23,associated with the operating member to engage corresponding passivecontacts, such as 24, which in the preferred form illustrated take theform of bare wires.

The latching mechanism is shown at the lower right portion of Fig. 1.This mechanism comprises a rotatable shaft 25 having a plate 26 and acam 2'! secured thereto. A number of flat springs, such as 28, areriveted to the plate 26 at their uppermost ends. Each of these springsis positioned so as to normally clear the end of the file selectingmember aligned therewith when the shaft 25 is rotated counter-clockwise.The shaft 25 is biassed in a clockwise direction by a fiat spring 29engaging an arm 30 which extends from the shaft. A further arm 3i Fig.'7, extending from the shaft engages a frame member to limit theclockwise rotation of the shaft. The spring 29 and arms 30 and 3| areshown in Figs. 7 and 8. A pawl 32 is pivotally secured to the end of thecontrol member I4 and is biassed against the cam 21 by a coil spring 33.When the control member I4 is actuated by the operation of the controlmagnet IS, the pawl 32 drops 34;or:=3|" tormedattheend thereof. Theten.- sion' of the flatspring. -such..a.s. 28,- against the lug, such as34, overcomes the opposin'gtbias exerted on the file selecting member bythe. flat spring, such as 9, engaging theslet, such-as ill,

at the opposite end thereof; thercbyholding the file selecting memberactuated. after the associated selecting-magnetais released. =When thecontrol magnet -l i restores, the actuated rank selecting member isreleased causing all of the operating members associated therewithexcepting that-held by the actuatediileselecting member. to be raisedout --oiengagement with their corresponding-file selectingmembers.

The connection established as described above is released by theoperation of the common re- "lease magnet 35 having an arm 36, biased byspring 12, extending 'from the armature thereof.

The arm (iii-raises the-pawl out ofengagement with the tooth inthecam-fl to thereby permit restoration of the shaft-2i and the actuatedfile selecting member when magnetiii-is energized.

When the actuatcdflle selectedmember restores, the tension of the activecon-tact springs. such as which illustrate various steps in-the sequenceof operations. All details notncccssary to an understanding of theopeiation have been omitted from these figures to avoid confusion. InFig, 3 the mechanism is shown atgnormal. v the magnet armature--81 habeen operated,

In F 4 h y ct ati sthe rresp dingfl c s ct membe sa to the lefwlthout-efiect at the mom n and, d essi gflnge J5 i oa ositi he e 9 en aes t e. arm. 0 ex en in r se ec in member 1. some con ro member l s o ea e o theleit bythc subscquentcns a n of. con ro magnet: 1'6. therebrotatin th mem er aboutits pi ot po n .2. Th

rotat on f membe l. e m sall of. t e .opera ing members, such as '43and43', associated therew th to dro r rari din-came selectin m mbe 8 isti l.actu= .ted.ithe co re pondin one. Qftbe operati g nicmb rsr leasedb .meml he M wil itc t. on'thc. m mber .38. until it reres andt is one:.1 18 member. will. then drop comp e ely. t. s ould b noted...that pawl32 ha en a ed the iootnin. cam; 11 .prost ate v tating. sha t 5.;clockwise the contr l ma nctifi. s su sequent y. r leased. .In Big5,.mas-

.n t. a mat re 13 has. becurcicascd. thereby pern1 insfrle sele ti sinmb r 3.8 associated therewith t r tore. .Flngcnfliifi. remains.depressed sinc it is at hed und r. he arm 110: the ank selectin m mber4iv whichis herefor heldactu tcd. Ma net armature 4 was-s bs q ently oerated th reby ac uatinafih electin member '38 whichv-intu n actuatedthe operatin m mber 4 locatcdetthe intersection of se1e.ct.

m mbers M. and 3 5. .1131. hus cremat d.v he

conta t setassoc' t wi hcme n er-fli. Th control mag et l 1sthen-released. as Shown in Fi 6. causing control member. ii to r s e t er h herestoration ofmember l4 rotate shaft... 25. n, a,.c .ockwi c..d.cc ion. thus, causin s ing- 2.8 o engase uaafl-formodrat theendo=-memher- 38', ther by .hold ngthislm m er a uated after a net rmatue.-nassub eeuen ly released. All other springs corresponding .to.

.coil spring 49. Operating member-J3 is frictionally held due to thetensionof its associated active contact springs which press it againstselecting member 38'. The displacement of operating member. 4.3 totheleit provides clearance between itselfand .the inclined arm ofselecting member 4!, upon which it normally rests, to thereby preventinterference with the restoration of the member 4|. When the releasemagnetv 85 is subsequently operated its armature raises the pawl 32 todisengage it from the tooth or cam 21, thus permitting the shaft torotate counterclockwise to its normal position. Selecting mem- -.ber 38!consequently will be releasedv and restores to the right. The pressureexerted on operating member 43 by its associated contact. set. nowforces it up the inclinedarm of member 4| to its normal restingposition. thereon as. shownin Fig. 3.

As briefly mentioned heretofore,- the. switching -mechanism ispreferably. constructedso asto extend connections directly tobarewiremultiples, rather than to individual. contacts. since it isparticularly intended for use in .telephoneswitching systems. In such anapplication the individual contacts of a number of correspondingswitches would-have to be. connected together by strap wires. Aconsiderable saving isefiected when these individual contaotsandassociated wiring are eliminated. In ordertousebare wire -multiplestowhich circuits are'directly extended,

a number of identical switches are mounted one above the other with thebare wire multiples extending therebetween in parallel-vertical planes.

.This form of construction has been illustrated in Figs. 6 to 10 whichshow the uppermost switch of a group. For convenience, there are tenvertical multiples each including lO gr-oups of conductors, each groupcomprising four conductors. Each switch includes one hundred activecontact sets, each includin fourtcontacts, arranged in ten ranks of tensets each. The forty conductors in each multiple are supported byinsulating blocks, such-as 48, shown in'Figs 2, 7, and 9. The insulatingblocks-of each multipleare secured to a panel, such as 22,: at spacedintervals. As may be seenin -Fig. 2, hookshaped flat contact springs,such as 23,are clamped at one end between the insulating blocks and,clamping plates, such as 52, with the free ends of the springs alignedwith corresponding ones of the multiple conductors, such as 24. Aspreviously mentioned, the contact operating members are suspended onhooks which are formed; in the clamping plates. The free ends of thecontact -ber of switches in the whole unit. Each, of; the

above assemblies 7 includes two end plates, such as 53 and 54, Big 7,which are secured to the panels. and whi h i turn support the selectinma'gnets, the armatures therefor, and the rank selecting'members. As maybe seen in Fig. 9, -one of the end plates of each pair is formed withextending arms, such as I I, 56, and 57, which serve as armaturebackstops, rank selecting member bearing supports, and rank selectingmember stops, respectively. Ten such completed panels stand vertically,front to back, and are secured together by tie plates, such as 58 and'59. An end panel 60 is also secured to the tie plates. The end panelsupports the control'relay l6, guide plates slidably supporting the fileselecting members, and the fiat springs 9 for biassing 'these' members.Similar guide plates, such as 6|, are secured to the panel on the rightas shown in Fig. 10. The latching mechanism for each switch is alsosecured to this latter panel. The -release relay .35 is attached to anarm extending from tie plate 58, which also supports the contact sets,such as 3, associated with each selecting 'magnet. The control member [4is slidably secured to the tieplate 58 by shoulder rivets, such "as 62,as shown inFig. 8. At the right of this figure there is shown a contactset 63 which is arranged tobe closed, whenever the latching :mechanismis operated, by the arm 33' extending from the latching mechanism shaft.These springs are used to open the circuit to the release magnet 35after the latching mechanism is released thereby.

While the invention has been described with a certain degree ofparticularity, it should be understood that numerous modifications inthe details of construction and arrangement of parts vmay be resortedtowithout departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention asdefined in the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is; l

1. In a switching mechanism, a plurality of contact sets disposed inranks and files, a pinrality of magnets each corresponding to a rank andto a file of said contact sets, a control magnet, means controlled bythe operation of one of said magnets and said control magnet forselecting the corresponding rank of contact sets, and means responsiveto a subsequent operation of any one of said magnets for selectivelyoperating the'contact set in the corresponding file and in thepreviously selected rank.

2.The combination in a cross-bar switch of a plurality of selectingmagnets, a common magnet, a plurality of contact sets controlled by saidmagnets, and means responsive to the operation of one of said selectingmagnets in conjunction with the operation of said commonmagnet fol lowedby the release of said one selecting magnet and the operation of asecond one of said selecting magnets for selectively operating one ofsaid contact sets corresponding to said two selecting magnets.

3. In a switching mechanism,'ranks and files of contact sets, a group ofrank selecting members, a group of file selecting members, a group ofmagnets each corresponding to a rank selecting member and eachassociated with a file selecting member, a'normally ineffective controlmember, fingers operated by said magnets rendering said control memberefiective to operate a corresponding rank selecting member, saidoperated rank selecting member being held by said control memberindependently of said magnets, operating members individual to saidcontact sets, said operated rank selecting member causing acorresponding rank of said operating memtiers to be moved into operativerelationship with ported thereby to fallby gravity into engagement withsaid second group of bars, and means;

said file selecting members, whereby subsequent operations of saidmagnets are effective to selectively operate .contact sets in theselected rank.-

4. In a switching mechanism as claimed in claim 3, latching meansoperated inresponse to a subsequent operation of said control member tohold'the file selecting member associated With;- the subsequentlyoperated magnet independently thereof.

5. In a switching mechanism, a plurality of contact sets disposed inranks and files, a plurality of selecting magnets each corresponding toa rank and to a file of said contact sets, a common magnet, meansresponsive to the joint operation of one of said selecting magnets andsaid common magnet for selecting the corresponding rank of said contactsets, and means responsive to a subsequent operation of one of saidselectby said members in response to the sequential operation of certainof said magnets for selectively operating one or said contact sets andin response to a reversal in the order of operation of said same certainmagnets for selectively operating a different one of said contact sets.

8. In a switching mechanism, a plurality of contact sets disposed inranks and files, a plurality of magnets each corresponding to a rank andto a file of said contact sets, a common magnet, and means responsive tothe successive operation of one of said selecting magnets, said commonmagnet, and another one of said selecting magnets for selectivelyoperating one of said contact sets in accordance with the selectingmagnets operated and the order of operation .thereof.

9. In a switching mechanism, a first group of; parallel bars, a secondgroup of parallel bars intersecting said first group, a contact set ateach; point of intersection of said bars, individual con-.tactfoperating members normally supported by the first group of bars,means operated to actu-. ate any one of the bars in said first group toper-. mitthe'contact operating members normally supoperated to actuateany one of the bars in said; second group to selectively operate thecontact set at the intersection of said two actuated bars.

10. A v switch comprising two intersecting groups of selecting members,a separately operable contact set at each point of intersection, acontrol magnet and a plurality of selecting magnets for operating saidmembers, and means operated by said members in response to theoperation. of a pair of said selecting magnets and said control magnetfor selectively operating one of said contact sets in case one of saidselecting magnets of said pair is operated before the other selectingmagnet of said pair and for selectively operating another of .saidcontact sets in case "said other selecting magnet and said controlmagnet is operated before said one selecting; magnet a V 11. In across-bar switch, two groups of crossed bars, individual magnets foroperating each bar in one of said groups, a common magnet for operatingany bar in the other of said groups, and means responsive to theoperation of one of said individual magnets for selecting acorresponding one of the bars in said other group to be operated by saidcommon magnet.

12. In a switching mechanism, a plurality of contact sets arranged inranks and files, a pair of magnets each corresponding to one rank andone file of contact sets, means operated by said pair of magnets foroperating a contact set in either of two ranks or in either of twofiles, the magnet of the pair first operated determining the rank of thecontact set to be operated and the magnet subsequently operateddetermining the file of the contact set to be operated, and means foroperating said pair of magnets sequentially in one order or in thereverse order whereby a contact set in either of two ranks and files maybe operated dependent upon the order of operation of said pair ofmagnets.

13. A switch comprising a first group of selecting members and a secondgroup of selecting members which intersect said first group members at aplurality of points of intersections, a separately operable contact setat each point of intersection, magnets for operating said members, eachsaid magnet being individual to a first group member and individual to asecond group member, means responsive to the operation of a first magnetfor operating its individual first group member, means for thereafteroperating the second group member individual to said operated firstmagnet, means responsive to the release of said first magnet forreleasing its individual first group member, said first means responsiveto the reoperation of said first magnet for reoperating its individualfirst group member, and means operated in response to the reoperation ofsaid first group member for operating the contact set at theintersection point of said reoperated first group member and saidoperated second group member.

14. In a cross-bar switch, a first magnet, a second magnet, a first anda second bar individual to each magnet, said bars intersecting eachother at four points of intersections, a separately operable contact setat each point of intersection, means responsive to a first operation,the release and then a reoperation of said first magnet for operatingits individual first and second bars to operate the contact set at theintersection of said first and second bars individual to said firstmagnet, means responsive to a first operation,

10 the release and then a reoperation of said second magnet foroperating its individual first and second bars to operate the contactset at the intersection of said first and second bars individual to saidsecond magnet, means responsive to a first operation of said firstmagnet, the release of said first magnet and then the operation of saidsecond magnet for operating said second bar individual to said firstmagnet and then said first bar individual to said second magnet tooperate the contact set at the intersection of said second barindividual to said first magnet and said first bar individual to saidsecond magnet, and means responsive to a first operation of said secondmagnet, the release of said second magnet and then the operation of saidfirst magnet for operating said second bar individual to said secondmagnet and said first bar individual to said first magnet to operate thecontact set at the intersection of said second bar individual to saidsecond magnet and said first bar individual to said first magnet.

15. In a cross-bar switch, intersecting bars, a first magnet, a secondmagnet, a first, a second, a third and a, fourth set of contacts, meansresponsive to a first operation, the release and then a reoperation ofsaid first magnet for operating a first pair of said intersecting barsto operate said first set of contacts, means responsive to a firstoperation, the release and then the reoperation of said second magnetfor operating a second pair of said intersecting bars to operate saidsecond set of contacts, means responsive to a first operation of saidfirst magnet, the release or said first magnet and then the operation ofsaid second magnet for operating a third pair of said 1 intersectingbars to operate said third set of contacts, and means responsive to afirst operation of said second magnet, the release of said second magnetand then the operation of said first magnet for operating a fourth pairof said intersecting bars to operate said fourth set of contacts.

KENNETH W. GRAYBILL. HANS SENGEBUSCH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,472,503 Taylor Oct. 30, 19232,021,329 Reynolds Nov. 19, 1935 2,338,181 Holden W Jan. 4, 1944

